title: Polymorphic effects of exogenous gangliosides on antigen-induced lymphoproliferation and generation of MHC unrestricted cell mediated cytotoxicity.
abstract: Cell membrane gangliosides have been shown to be involved in a number of biological processes including cell adhesion, signal transduction and ligand receptor interactions. In this paper we analyzed the effects of a mixture of bovine brain gangliosides, currently in clinical use, on cell mediated immune responses in vitro. We show here that exogenous gangliosides inhibit mitogen and alloantigen induced lymphoproliferation. On the other hand effects on antigen induced blastogenesis were exquisitely dose dependent in that while high doses of gangliosides inhibited lymphoproliferation, probably by interfering in interleukin 2 receptor interactions, lower doses significantly enhanced antigen induced responsiveness. We also report that gangliosides inhibit the generation of lymphokine activated killer cells. Altogether, these data underline the immunoregulatory potential and the polymorphism of effects of exogenous gangliosides.
authors.affiliation: Istituto CNR Tipizzazione Tissutale e Problemi della Dialisi, I Università Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ausiello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sconocchia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amici
authors.forename: C U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Casciani
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008222:Lymphokines